Budget maneuver, debate begins between Quota 41 and Quota 103 –

As the presentation of the 2025 budget maneuver approaches, rumors about possible changes to the Italian pension system are becoming more and more insistent. The Meloni government is working to define the measures that will be included in the new budget law, with particular attention to pension reform. One of the main changes could be the introduction of Quota 41 in place of Quota 103. This measure would allow people to retire with 41 years of contributions, regardless of their age. However, the proposal is the subject of debate within the majority, as it would entail a significant cost for the state coffers, estimated at at least 1 billion euros per year. The extension of the Ape Sociale, which allows early retirement at 63 for disadvantaged workers, such as the unemployed, caregivers and people with disabilities, seems to be confirmed. Opzione Donna, which allows women to retire early with 35 years of contributions, should also be renewed, despite the drop in requests recorded in the first quarter of 2024.

Another hypothesis under discussion concerns a possible tightening of early retirement. It is being considered to extend the exit windows, bringing the requirements to 43 years and 5 months for men and 42 years and 5 months for women. This proposal has already met with opposition from the League, which would prefer to focus on Quota 41. In the meantime, however, the opposition is attacking: according to Raffaella Paita, coordinator of Italia Viva, “rather than eliminating the old law, early retirements will be delayed. Another of the League’s campaign warhorses”, namely the overcoming of the Fornero law, “is denied by the facts. With the next budget law, the house of cards of the government’s promises will come down and, putting aside the summer conspiracies, the majority will have to deal with reality”.

The government is also considering new incentives for those who decide to stay in the workforce and a possible tightening of higher pension checks, in a context of falling inflation. Furthermore, there is talk of benefits for working mothers and a maxi-deduction for those who hire, measures that could be extended to achieve more significant results. Other criticisms come from the 5 Star Movement: Elisa Pirro recalls that «while the Government will not be able to go beyond a Budget with cuts to pensions, healthcare and investments, a path that Meloni and Giorgetti have inflicted on themselves with the subordinate acceptance of the new Stability Pact, the redundancy fund has literally exploded, both in July 2024 compared to the previous month (+3.71%), and compared to July 2023 (+27.9%), and in the first half of 2024 compared to the same half of 2023 (+20.12%). Faced with this situation, the Melonian teleshopping must end».